Billion-dollar mine felled by a blue banded bee

By Samantha Bawden

Friday, 12 December 2025

NewsPolitics & Regulation

Last year, former Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek derailed Regis Resources’ (ASX: RRL) $1b McPhillamys gold project in NSW with a controversial Indigenous heritage ruling.Now more than a year later, the Federal Court in Sydney is hearing Regis’ case — with the company pleading that the decision should be deemed invalid due to alleged issues and failures on behalf of Minister Plibersek.

The MOU supports Metallium’s plan to develop a national network of e-waste processing facilities, strategically located near major e-waste collection hubs, rapidly expanding U.S. data centre industrial parks and regional industrial corridors with strong logistics and waste generation.

Contractor fined $540,000 after fatal rock fall

Contractor fined $540,000 after fatal rock fall

Contractor fined $540,000 after fatal rock fall An underground mining contractor has been fined for a rock fall incident that resulted in the death of an employee at Hamlet underground gold mine in WA in October 2022. The contractor, RUC Mining Contractors, pled guilty to two counts of the same offence — exposing a worker to a risk of death, injury or harm to health, contrary to sections 19(1) and 32(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 — which resulted in the death of a driller and the injury of a probationary offsider. This offence does not indicate that the breach caused the...

Lynas becomes world-first outside of China

Lynas becomes world-first outside of China

Lynas become world first outside of China Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC) has commercially produced separated heavy rare earths following its successful production of dysprosium oxide at its Malaysia plant. This makes the company the only global producer of the products outside of China. Dysprosium is critical to the production of high-performance magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines. Production of the strategic mineral has been affected by China’s recent export restrictions. Lynas, based in Perth, WA, confirmed the successful production of its first batch of the mineral on Friday. The company currently sources the ore for its...

This marks BHP’s third renewable electricity supply arrangement in South Australia in the past four years and its second renewable electricity supply arrangement with Neoen.

BHP backs next generation Goldfields jobs

BHP backs next generation Goldfields jobs BHP (ASX: BHP) has contributed $5m to the WA Department of Training and Workforce Development to support apprenticeships and traineeships in the Goldfields region. The funding will support 35 new apprentices and trainees through the Group Training Organisation wage subsidy program, launched in 2022, to help small to medium-sized businesses to take on apprentices and trainees. BHP WA Vice president Annabelle Blom says the company supports local training and provides opportunities...

Pit to ship progress for Onslow

Pit to ship progress for Onslow

Pit to ship progress for Onslow Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) has marked a new milestone at its Onslow iron project, in the west Pilbara region of WA, with more than 10mt of iron ore shipped out of the Port of Ashburton. The project is expected to increase production to more than 35mt annually over its 30-year life span. After achieving first ore on ship ahead of schedule in May last year, development across all aspects of the pit to ship supply chain has continued to increase. At the Port of Ashburton, the project’s marine and port infrastructure continues to be a crucial part of the supply chain. Innovative 20,000t shallow transhippers are being used to ferry the ore to larger...